The 2026 Winter Olympics are almost upon us, and the participating teams will soon have to name their rosters for the tournament. That said, it’s always fun to speculate about what the Olympic rosters will look like.

Last week, we focused on Team Canada and Team USA. It’s now time to project Sweden’s men’s hockey roster.

The Swedes won’t be favorites to win the tournament, but they have the talent to win gold.

They’ll need their best players to come up big in clutch moments – we’re talking about Toronto Maple Leafs star right wing William Nylander, Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe and Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson – and their goaltending will need to be a strength for them.

Sweden has an excellent balance of young players and proven veterans. Their youngsters include Anaheim Ducks budding star Leo Carlsson, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Minnesota Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt. Some veterans are New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, Colorado Avalanche left winger Gabriel Landeskog and Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg.

There’s also more than enough competition for roster spots that some surprising names were left off our roster projection.

Don’t forget, this projection is based on this writer’s point of view. So let’s get straight to the projection for Team Sweden. Players with an asterisk were already named to the roster in June.

Forwards

Centers: Elias Pettersson, Leo Carlsson, Joel Eriksson Ek, Mika Zibanejad 

Wingers: William Nylander*, Adrian Kempe*, Jesper Bratt, Filip Forsberg, Gabriel Landeskog*, Lucas Raymond*, Rickard Rakell, Elias Lindholm, Marcus Johansson, Emil Heineman

The lowdown: Sweden’s forward group isn’t as deep as Canada’s or the United States’, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot to like up front.

With centers Pettersson and Carlsson providing offense for the group, a defense-minded center like Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson Ek can star on the penalty kill and match up against the other team’s top scorers.

On the wing, there’s no shortage of offense with Nylander, Kempe, Detroit’s Lucas Raymond, Pittsburgh’s Rickard Rakell and Nashville’s Forsberg providing speed and skill. And a veteran like Minnesota’s Marcus Johansson and the New York Islanders’ Emil Heineman have essentially played their way onto the roster with strong starts to the season.

In any case, the Swedes have more than enough high-end talent to keep them competitive in this tournament. But responsible performances at both ends of the ice will be mandatory if they’re to outlast the Canadian and U.S. squads.

Defensemen

Rasmus Dahlin*, Victor Hedman*, Hampus Lindholm, Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Andersson, Gustav Forsling, Jonas Brodin, Oliver Ekman-Larsson

The lowdown: Believe us when we tell you it was very tough leaving off Edmonton’s Mattias Ekholm from this group of eight Swedish blueliners, considering he was on the 4 Nations Face-Off roster.

But Boston’s Hampus Lindholm missed the 4 Nations with an injury, and the defensive specialist will play a crucial role on the penalty kill. And Toronto’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson can be an effective depth puck-mover, and he has experience playing on the right side despite being a lefty. Ekholm can play on the right side as well in specific situations, but this is mainly a case of which type of player we want as the seventh or eighth D-man.

Dahlin, Forsling, Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman, Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson and Minnesota’s Jonas Brodin, who were all on the 4 Nations roster, can give the Swedes at least 20 minutes of solid two-way play without giving up anything at either end of the ice.

If there is an injury (Hedman left Tuesday’s game), we’d go with Ekholm in a limited role.

Goaltenders

Jacob Markstrom, Jesper Wallstedt, Filip Gustavsson

The lowdown: Speaking of players who’ve played their way onto Team Sweden, Wild youngster Jesper Wallstedt is having a terrific year for Minnesota, and teammate Filip Gustavsson has also earned a spot.

The final goalie spot came down to two veterans having a subpar season – New Jersey’s Jacob Markstrom and Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark. And we chose Markstrom over Ullmark in a hunch. But if Ullmark outplays Markstrom in the next couple weeks, we’d be fine swapping the two.

Wallstedt is just beginning his journey as an elite netminder. But from what we’ve seen from him thus far this year, we’d give him the starter’s job to start the Olympics.

Gustavsson would be our second choice, and after that, Ullmark or Markstrom would be goaltending insurance, but Sweden’s goalies don’t have to steal them any games. If they give the Swedish forwards and defensemen a chance to win games, that’s all Swedish brass will care about.

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The fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua, set for Dec. 19 in Miami, has done more than generate public interest.

It has fueled skepticism, too.

Hasim Rahman, the retired heavyweight champion, captured the sentiment when he told USA TODAY Sports, ‘It should be an easy fight for Anthony Joshua. I mean, Jake Paul never fought anybody on that level in their prime or remotely useful.’

So, if Joshua fails win the eight-round heavyweight fight decisively? ‘We need some investigation going on,’ Rahman said.

Such talk is nothing new for Paul, who heard similar chatter before and after he beat 58-year-old Mike Tyson in 2024. Once again, the insinuations amount to nothing more than speculation, with no one having presented evidence of match-rigging. Also, Lou Durkin, president of the Association of Ringside Physicians, told USA TODAY Sports he thinks Paul has ‘real skills’ and there’s a good chance the fight with Joshua will go the distance.

But this time the dynamic is different.

Unlike Tyson, Joshua is 36 and still looks powerful and explosive.

Also, Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) has entered each of his previous fights as the favorite. This time, he’ll be a significant underdog. Not to mention he’ll be facing a massive size disadvantage. (Paul is 6-1 and expects to weigh in at no more than 220 pounds. Joshua is 6-6 and will be allowed to weigh in at a maximum of 245 pounds.)

With the fight shaping up to be a mismatch, at least on paper, notable retired fighters Gerry Cooney and Ray Mercer made comments similar to those from Rahman.

‘A little bit of a joke’

Cooney fought Larry Holmes for the WBC heavyweight title and The Ring heavyweight title in 1982 and fought Michael Spinks for The Ring heavyweight title 1987. He lost both bouts but did beat former champion Ken Norton and top contenders Ron Lyle and Jimmy Young.

Of Paul, Cooney said, ‘Obviously, Tyson could’ve ripped that kid apart in one round, right?’

Cooney, 69, then referred to Paul’s fight during the pandemic in 2020 on the undercard of Tyson’s exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr. That night, Paul delivered one of the most electric moments with a brutal knockout of retired NBA player Nate Robinson.

‘Jake Paul was great,’ Cooney said. ‘He gave us entertainment. But now it’s becoming a little bit of a joke, I feel. I mean, Joshua’s going in there with him and…do whatever they want him to do, or maybe not.’

‘He can actually box’

Mercer won the WBO heavyweight title in 1991 and defended it with a victory over Tommy Morrison. He also fought the likes of Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.

Mercer, 64, commended Paul.

‘I think he can actually box, but just not on the level of the people that he’s boxing,’ Mercer. ‘You know what I’m saying? If he joined a tournament like the Golden Gloves or something like that, he might do good. But the people that he’s fighting, all the champions and all that, I mean, come on.’

On Paul’s X account, he has posted images of himself looking up at Joshua and Sylvester Stallone, playing Rocky, looking up at Ivan Drago, the fictional character who Rocky defeats in ‘Rocky IV.’ Drago reappears in ‘Creed II.’

‘You got Sly Stallone come out with movies, Creed and all that,’ Mercer said. ‘But it’s real people out there (in the fight between Paul and Joshua). I hope (Joshua) can just say to hell with it and knock his ass out.’

‘Should be an easy fight’

Rahman, 53, won the unified heavyweight title in 2001 and the WBC title for a second time in 2005.

He pointed out that Joshua won an Olympic gold medal (in 2012) and the unified heavyweight title twice. By contrast, Paul has fought professionally 13 times with no amateur career — beyond a victory over a YouTuber, that is.

Paul, 28, is eight years younger than Joshua. But the gulf in experience and achievement between the boxers is undeniable.

‘I don’t believe it should be a competitive fight. It should not,’ Rahman said. ‘I feel like if Anthony Joshua don’t go in there and manhandle (Paul) and maul him and get him out of there in one or two rounds, then we got some questions to be asked.’

AI-assisted summary
• The Indianapolis Colts signed 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad.
• GM Chris Ballard recently traded two first-round picks for CB Sauce Gardner, signaling a ‘win-now’ approach.
• The signing of Rivers highlights the team’s lack of a reliable backup quarterback after going all-in at the trade deadline.

I’m not a poker player. Spades and Hearts are my games − maybe Solitaire or Go Fish with the kids.

But I’ve seen “Rounders,” “Casino Royale” and enough coverage of games of chance and skill on ESPN and other outlets over the years to know that when you’re pot committed, you better not overplay your hand.

Unfortunately, the Indianapolis Colts’ decision to sign 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad Tuesday seems like a strong tell that the organization and longtime general manager Chris Ballard did exactly that.

On one level you have to feel for the Colts. Ballard seemed to inherit a full house when he took the job in 2017 – then-quarterback Andrew Luck worth three aces on his own. But Indy was dealt a terrible hand when oft-injured Luck shockingly retired two weeks before the 2019 season – Ballard and Co. chasing a better one ever since, the Colts languishing outside the playoffs since Rivers last led them there in 2020 in what was purportedly his 17th and final NFL campaign.

Expectations for the team entering the 2025 season seemed modest at best, Ballard diversifying his QB options between Anthony Richardson − the tantalizingly gifted but raw, inexperienced, inconsistent and occasionally immature talent he chose fourth overall in the 2023 draft − and reclamation project Daniel Jones, once viewed as the future of the New York Giants.

Yet Jones took command of the Indianapolis offense, took command of the locker room, and the Colts took command of the AFC South with a 7-1 start. That was enough to spur Ballard – typically a conservative roster architect who prefers a draft-develop-reward/re-sign approach – to effectively push his chips into the middle of the table at the league’s Nov. 4 trade deadline by dealing two first-round picks, tantamount to parting with the crown jewels given his historical reticence for pricey acquisitions, to obtain New York Jets All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner.

And sure, maybe Ballard was on a warming seat nearly a decade into what’s been a disappointing tenure despite some key circumstances that had been beyond his control. But the big swing for Gardner also signaled Ballard’s belief that this team was championship caliber, and that his players should operate accordingly. And what a story it would be if the Colts could end what’s become nearly a two-decade championship drought just months after owner Jim Irsay’s stunning death.

Just one problem: Ballard didn’t account for a few of those chips, which apparently wound up under the table. After all, spending just a few more might have also given the Colts needed insurance at a quarterback position that’s been snakebit ever since Peyton Manning went under the knife 14 years ago. And Ballard has signed enough guys like Joe Flacco, Jacoby Brissett, Nick Foles and Gardner Minshew II to know you need reliable dudes like that around as fallbacks. He’s also drafted enough guys like Richardson, Sam Ehlinger and Jacob Eason to know nascent passers can’t be trusted or even expected to elevate the remainder of a roster.

But instead of anteing up for a Plan B QB at the trade deadline – current Giants third-stringer Russell Wilson, who’s on a one-year deal, would have been the obvious stopgap choice – Ballard decided to roll with Jones, rookie Riley Leonard and journeyman Brett Rypien, who resides on the practice squad. Not even Richardson, who’s been on injured reserve with an injured orbital bone for nearly two months, was an emergency option. The stratagem arguably veers into personnel malpractice given Jones had played on a fractured fibula in recent weeks before tearing his Achilles during Sunday’s loss at Jacksonville. Yet Ballard hadn’t brought in an experienced free agent like, say, Taylor Heinicke or poached a passer from another club’s practice squad in the interim.

Now, here we are – Rivers, a player-coach if there ever was one, back after nearly five years out of the league. Sure, he knows the organization. Sure, he knows head coach Shane Steichen and his playbook given all the years they spent together with the Chargers, and they’ve maintained their relationship since. Sure, Rivers is a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback. Sure, he’s 44 but – in some respects given his limited physical gifts – he’s been a 44-year-old quarterback for the past 24 years. Right? And, yeah, this is all a bit whimsical.

But it’s hardly fair or reasonable to expect Rivers to pick up where he left off and take the Colts back to the playoffs, which they’re not even projected to make given how things shook out after Sunday’s setback. Even if Rivers is forced into the lineup – though hopefully not against that nasty Seahawks defense in Seattle this weekend – and catches lightning in a bottle like Flacco did two years ago for the Cleveland Browns and gets Indy as far as Week 19, what then? You don’t think defensive-centric teams like the Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans or New England Patriots wouldn’t key on superstar back Jonathan Taylor and force a rusty guy born the year (1981) President Ronald Reagan took office to beat them?

Admittedly, there’s no major risk to signing Rivers. But there’s no legitimate upside, either. Even if he somehow won a playoff game, Ballard’s going to be in an unenviable position some time in January. And that means having a top-tier cornerback in a ground-and-pound division; one quarterback (Richardson) who seems ready for a fresh start; and another (Jones) rehabbing a serious injury but on the cusp of a free agency period that could bring a bidding war for his services – whether or not he’s ready to start the 2026 season. Oh, and no first-round pick as an alternative to remediate the quandary … next year or in 2027.

Poker is a cruel game. But by seemingly going with his heart of late, Ballard now has problems in spades … and could find himself in a solitary place, fishing for a new job soon enough.

• John Cena had several feuds during his long WWE career, but some stand out more than others.
• Most of John Cena’s best rivalries came during his meteoric rise and when he became the face of wrestling.
• Notable rivals include AJ Styles, Kurt Angle and CM Punk.

More than 23 years is enough time to develop heated rivals in wrestling, and John Cena had plenty of them in WWE.

As the face of WWE for decades, Cena got to the top of the wrestling world thanks to the epic showdowns he had with other big-time stars. Whether it was the promos, matches or the stakes, some feuds stood out above the rest. They often helped raise the legacy of both Cena and his rival as they each brought the best out of each other, and those heated rivalries helped produce some of wrestling’s top moments in recent memory.

Of course, not all of them were top-tier quality, but there were rivalries that transcended the sport and helped shape what wrestling is today. Now, as Cena is set to end his WWE career, it’s time to look back on the best feuds that helped define his illustrious career.

10. Shawn Michaels

After some brief encounters early in his career, Cena entered a fantastic duel with Michaels in 2007. As they headed toward the WrestleMania 23 main event, they surprisingly won the World Tag Team Championship, but generated great heat while holding the titles. It culminated in an epic clash at WrestleMania, with prime Cena taking on Michaels, who had plenty of talent still left in his legendary career. The match delivered and Cena successfully defended his title in a thriller.

It wouldn’t be their most memorable bout. Less than a month later, they fought at a Monday Night Raw in London in a match that lasted nearly an hour. Regarded as one of the best bouts in Monday night history, Michaels won to even the score and cap off what was a sensational start of 2007 between the two.

9. Big Show

There are some Cena rivalries that reignited again and again, including his battles with the Big Show.

Cena’s rise in WWE is thanks to the Big Show, as the two feuded up to WrestleMania 20 in 2003, which included a hilarious rap battle between the two. At WrestleMania 20, the two started the event in a match for the United States Championship. It started with a bang and was capped off with the shot of Cena picking up the 500-pound Big Show for the Attitude Adjustment to win his first title in WWE and put him on the trajectory to stardom.

The two tangled several times afterward and even were tag team partners on occasion. Notable matches include the triple threat World Heavyweight title match at WrestleMania 25 and the monthslong battle that took place in 2009 after Big Show sent Cena through a light fixture with a chokeslam at Backlash. In 2012, the two met again with The Authority storyline.

Cena got in the ring with the Big Show for more than a decade, with their last match in 2015, a testament to their longevity.

8. JBL

In order for Cena to be WWE’s top guy, he needed to be the top champion. That happened with a fantastic battle with John Bradshaw Layfield in 2005. It was a sign of the times; JBL was the veteran, heel champion while Cena was the up-and-coming beloved star. The passion they displayed as Cena sought JBL’s title and the champion tried to silence the newbie was captivating and was main event worthy. They faced off at WrestleMania 21 for the title and Cena ended JBL’s nine-month reign to win the WWE Championship, his first world title.

It continued when they met again at Judgment Day in an ‘I Quit’ match, which produced the famous image of a bloodied-Cena. It showed Cena’s toughness as he retained the gold. The two would meet again in 2008 when they had another string of vicious battles.

JBL was the perfect person to turn Cena into a main event name. Cena likely would have become a superstar anyways, but the feud and match cemented Cena’s status and worthiness. JBL also gave Cena the great nickname of ‘Big Match John.’

7. Brock Lesnar

Cena and Lesnar came into WWE together, and their paths crossed several times as the two each rose to become major forces in the company. They first met on SmackDown in 2002 as rookies and battled throughout the next 23 years. With each meeting, the stage got bigger as their stardom grew. After last meeting in 2004, they faced off again in 2012 when Lesnar returned to WWE. At Extreme Rules, ‘Super Cena’ overcame the domination from Lesnar and defeated him in a bloody battle for his first win in the rivalry. They met again in 2014 when Lesnar’s domination continued, and it was capped off in their final meeting at WrestlePalooza 2025.

On paper, it wasn’t much of a rivalry because of Lesnar’s dominance. But it was an important one for both of their careers given they got to the top at similar times and met when they were big names. Cena was one of the few opponents to feel like they had a chance against Lesnar.

6. Kurt Angle

Why not go back to the very beginning? Cena introduced himself in a big way in his WWE debut against Angle, when he famously uttered ‘ruthless aggression’ before attacking the Olympic gold medalist. While Angle won, Cena let the wrestling world know this was no ordinary wrestler.

As Cena climbed his way to the top of WWE, it felt like Angle was always there. Angle challenged for the United States Championship; Cena beat him to get the WWE title match at WrestleMania 21; and after Cena won the championship, Angle eventually fought him for it. Then there was the first blood match in January 2006, when a bloodied Cena put Angle in the STF. The established star tested Cena at several key moments on his way to the top.

5. AJ Styles

It’s a shame we had to wait until 2016 to see these two icons lock up. But when they did, boy did they make up for it.

After Styles made a thunderous entrance to WWE, it wasn’t long before these two got tangled up in a rivalry. Styles attacked Cena and they had their dream match at Money in the Bank, which Styles won. It started a trilogy of incredible matches, as the two brought out the best of each other every time they squared off. Styles won again at SummerSlam and Royal Rumble 2017 is where they capped it off in tremendous fashion. It was a thriller where Cena beat Styles, and it came with the prize of being a record-tying 16-time WWE champion.

Just for good measure, we got to see the veterans wrestle again at Crown Jewel in October, and they stole the show and turned back the clock to deliver one of the best matches of the year.

Two of wrestling’s greatest didn’t have the most heat in a rivalry, but their mutual respect and stellar matches makes this one of the best in Cena’s time.

4. The Rock

Two faces of a generation. Two wrestling stars that made it to Hollywood and dominated the box office. It was must-see TV seeing these two collide.

When The Rock came back to WWE in 2011, the megastars instantly became intertwined as the two greats generated great distaste for each other. They delivered epic promos against one another for a year to build up the ‘Once in a Lifetime’ match at WrestleMania 28, which became the most anticipated bout in WWE history. The Rock emerged victorious, but it didn’t end there. Cena was fixated on getting a rematch for an entire year, and it happened in 2012 at WrestleMania 29. The heat didn’t waver and they had another big-time showdown, with Cena winning and The Rock officially passing the torch to his foe.

Even though they only wrestled each other twice, it didn’t end there. In the wild main event of WrestleMania 40, Cena surprised and helped Cody Rhodes against The Bloodline, which brought out The Rock for another epic face-off.

The two then joined forces for a shocking heel turn, but that storyline never developed and left a stain on their history. But given they’re the two biggest household wrestling names in the 21st century, it never got as star-studded as this.

3. CM Punk

Cena and Punk couldn’t be any more different; Cena was the prototypical superhero and Punk was the obscure, rebellious star. That’s what made it perfect.

The two drew very emotional reactions anytime they squared off, starting with the rivalry of the year in 2011. It catapulted itself into WWE lore in June 2011 when Punk interfered with Cena’s match and delivered the infamous pipe bomb promo detailing his frustrations with Cena’s stardom while blurring the lines of reality and fantasy. Then they had their title match at Money in the Bank in Punk’s hometown of Chicago, which had one of the best environments for a WWE show ever, with cheering for Punk and hostility for Cena. Punk won the WWE title in what was, at the time, his final night in the company, leaving with the top prize. A week later, Punk returned with ‘Cult of Personality’ and reignited the heat.

There were more battles over the next two years, and they were able to bring it back in June, when both stars showed they hadn’t skipped a beat with Cena delivering his own pipe bomb and each continuing the disses. When you call your opponent your ‘wrestling soulmate,’ it’s a sign of one of the best rivalries a wrestler can have.

2. Randy Orton

Perhaps no one has more ring history with Cena than Orton, as the two entered WWE together and embarked on a career-long rivalry that contained several big moments on the grandest of stages.

Cena and Orton first met in 2005 to kick-start a 20-year feud as they rose to the top of the business. Orton brought such a fiery passion to every rivalry matchup, but it was the greatest when Cena was opposite him. The rivalry took off in 2007 as they chased the WWE title, highlighted by arguably their best match at SummerSlam. A few months later, Orton defeated Cena and Triple H for the championship at WrestleMania 24. They put on several great stipulation matches afterward and culminated the feud at Backlash, where the one-time prodigies got to meet as WWE legends and reignite the heat one more time.

What helped was their constant battles to be at the top of the company. In total, Cena and Orton were in the ring together 23 times for a WWE title. At non-Royal Rumble premium live events, they were in the same match 23 times, with 11 of them being one-on-one battles. All together, no one has faced Cena more than Orton, and it created one of the best rivalries in the sport.

1. Edge

Was it not obvious? It’s clear there was no greater Cena rival than the ‘Rated R Superstar.’ You could argue Edge helped make Cena who he is, and the same could go with Cena for Edge. Both are correct, as the two stars had several epic clashes to forge one of the greatest rivalries in wrestling history.

It all started with one of the most shocking moments of the 2000s, when Edge cashed in the first Money in the Bank contract on a bloodied Cena at New Year’s Revolution in 2006. It was a stunning moment that started a heated clash between the two that lasted for years to come. That year alone, they faced off 11 times for the title; they battled 20 times in their career for gold. It felt like there was genuine hate for each other every time they faced off or traded words, and the stakes felt like there was more than just a title on the line. They truly defined the role of baby face and heel perfectly.

What’s remarkable is how great this duel was in short time; it lasted less than five years, with their last match against each other coming in September 2010. It’s a shame we never got to see them face off once more to bring back the fiery passion that made so many people fans. Regardless, they set the bar for what a true rivalry should look like.

Cena vs. Edge was one epic rivalry.

Dak Prescott and Jared Goff opened the week with dueling 300-yard games on ‘Thursday Night Football,’ Josh Allen was responsible for two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a comeback win, and Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert closed things out with a game of ‘who wants to turn the ball over more?’ on ‘Monday Night Football.’

There were plenty of other notable performances and things to take away from Week 14’s action, and here’s how it all affected the Week 15 edition of quarterback power rankings:

NFL quarterback power rankings: Week 15

1. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Last week: 2

Stafford has thrown at least one touchdown in each of his 13 starts this season, he’s thrown more than one touchdown in 11 of them, and he’s thrown three or more in seven starts – including in Week 14’s 45-17 win over the Cardinals. He’s also thrown only four interceptions all year.

2. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Last week: 1

Maye and the Patriots were on a bye in Week 14, which allowed Stafford to re-capture the power rankings lead with his strong outing. But Maye is still in a two-man race for this year’s MVP award as he leads the league in completion rate (71.5%) and is second in passing yards (3,412).

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Last week: 3

Allen had a near-perfect outing against the Bengals, completing 22 of his 28 pass attempts for 251 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 78 yards and a score. His efforts helped Buffalo pull off a big comeback win at home, bringing it a bit closer to the Patriots in the AFC East title race.

4. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Last week: 5

Love threw for 234 yards with at least three touchdowns in a second straight game. With a spot at the top of the NFC North on the line, the Packers’ quarterback tore up the Bears’ defense with some more beautiful throws. It’s looking like 2025 will be another season of Love figuring out how to play his best football later in the year.

5. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Last week: 4

Mahomes’ stat line was littered with career lows on ‘Sunday Night Football.’ The Texans forced the Chiefs’ quarterback into the worst passer rating, completion rate and EPA per dropback of his career. Kansas City’s receivers and beat-up offensive line were big reasons for those poor box score numbers. Mahomes’ receivers dropped five passes on Dec. 7, and he faced pressure on 21 of his 42 dropbacks – though he took just two sacks.

6. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Last week: 10

Burrow’s two interceptions in the fourth quarter against the Bills – including one returned for a touchdown – should not overshadow the otherwise incredible day for the Bengals’ quarterback. He had a completion rate of 69.4% with 284 yards and four touchdowns in the cold and snow in his second game back from a turf toe injury.

7. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Last week: 8

Darnold led the Seahawks to another road win in Week 15 to keep pace with the Rams at the top of the NFC West. Seattle’s quarterback threw three touchdown passes against the Falcons, marking his third game of the season with at least that many.

8. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Last week: 6

Prescott is the NFL’s new passing yards leader after throwing for 376 yards against the Lions. But he also threw two interceptions in the second half, fumbled once (though the Cowboys recovered) and lost 50 yards on five sacks taken – one of which almost resulted in a safety.

9. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Last week: 7

Herbert’s ‘Monday Night Football’ performance was the dictionary definition of gutsy. Playing with a surgically repaired fracture in his left hand, the Chargers quarterback faced 26 defensive pressures behind a struggling offensive line and took seven sacks – most of any player in Week 14. He also led the Chargers with 66 rushing yards and led his team to a big win. Points are deducted from his power ranking score for his two turnovers and rough completion rate (46.2%), though the rough offensive line play was a significant factor there.

10. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Last week: 12

Williams and the Bears may have lost a rough game to the Packers, but the second-year quarterback put some of the best throws of his career on tape in Week 14. There was a lot more to his performance than the game-ending interception that captured headlines.

11. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Last week: 9

A quarterback with 300+ passing yards in a game rarely gets outshined by a teammate, but running back Jahmyr Gibbs’ 120 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns managed to do that. Goff is still among NFL leaders in completion rate (70.1% – 2nd), passing touchdowns (26 – tied for 2nd) and passing yards (3,334 – 5th).

12. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Last week: 11

Jackson and the Ravens lost a second straight game to a divisional rival in Week 14, and the Steelers replaced them atop the AFC North with their win in Baltimore. Notably, Jackson’s Week 14 outing was only his second of the season with a rushing touchdown and his third with more than 40 rushing yards.

13. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Last week: 18

By passer rating, Lawrence’s last two games have been his best performances of the season. On film, Lawrence had one of the best games of his pro career in Week 14 with the kinds of ball placement and decisiveness that earned him his No. 1 overall pick status back in 2021. The Jaguars have also won four straight and five of their last six to take over the AFC South lead.

14. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last week: 13

After a strong start to the season, Mayfield and the Bucs are trending downward at the wrong time. The veteran quarterback was an MVP candidate through the first six weeks. Since then, he ranks 37th (of 37 quarterbacks) in efficiency – Ben Baldwin’s rbsdm.com has Mayfield at -0.023 expected points added (EPA) + completion percentage over expected (CPOE). The Bucs’ signal-caller has been playing through a low-grade AC joint in his left (non-throwing) shoulder since Week 12.

15. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Last week: 17

Stroud had three completions on 12 attempts in the second half of the Texans’ ‘Sunday Night Football’ win over the Chiefs. All of them were contained to two consecutive drives in the fourth quarter. That was largely due to the Chiefs’ heavy blitzing strategy out of halftime. Stroud faced 23 pressures in Week 14 – tied for third-most – and two of his three fourth-quarter completions saw him navigate around pressure to pick up a couple of first downs.

16. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Last week: 16

Purdy did not move up or down after Week 14 after the 49ers’ bye week.

17. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Last week: 19

Nix moves up in the power rankings after a 212-yard performance against the Raiders that included a rushing touchdown and an 81.6% completion rate that led all starters in Week 14.

18. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Last week: 20

Young moved up a couple of spots during the Panthers’ bye week due to one quarterback’s poor performance and one team’s change at the position due to injury.

19. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants

Last week: 21

Dart moved up a couple of spots during the Giants’ bye week due to one quarterback’s poor performance and one team’s change at the position due to injury.

20. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Last week: 14

Hurts entered Week 14 with just two interceptions on the season. He exited Week 14 with six. In a ‘Monday Night Football’ loss to the Chargers, the Eagles’ quarterback also managed to do something no player had done before: turn the ball over twice in one play.

21. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Last week: 28

Rodgers played his best game of the season in Week 14. In a matchup to decide which team would hold first place in the AFC North to begin Week 15, the veteran gunslinger threw for a season-high 284 yards with two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) without taking any sacks. Pittsburgh leads its division with four weeks to play.

22. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

Last week: 24

Shough has done nothing but play solid ball since taking over as the Saints’ starter. His latest outing included two rushing touchdowns that showed off his athleticism, and he also made some nice throws on a wet day in Tampa.

23. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

Last week: 22

Brissett has thrown for at least 250 yards in each of his eight starts. He’s also thrown two touchdowns in all but one of those starts – a 317-yard, one-touchdown outing against the Jaguars. Despite those numbers, the Cardinals have won just one of Brissett’s eight starts this year.

24. Tyrod Taylor, New York Jets

Last week: 23

Taylor completed one of four pass attempts for six yards and an interception before he left Week 14’s game with a groin injury.

25. Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns

Last week: 29

Sanders’ third career start was easily his best so far, despite the Browns’ loss. He threw for 364 yards and three touchdown passes (with another score rushing), marking his first 300-yard game and first multi-touchdown game in his pro career. It was enough to earn Sanders the starting job for the rest of the 2025 season.

26. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

Last week: 26

Ward’s second career win was mainly a result of running back Tony Pollard’s 161 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He threw two touchdown passes for his first career multi-touchdown game, bringing his career total to nine touchdown passes.

27. J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings

Last week: 30

McCarthy and the Vikings’ offense feasted against the Commanders in Week 14. The second-year quarterback threw for 163 yards – second-most of his career – and three touchdown passes at home against Washington for his third career win.

28. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

Last week: 32

Smith avoided throwing an interception for just the fourth time in a 2025 game, but he also left Week 14’s loss to the Broncos early with a shoulder injury.

29. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

Last week: 31

Tagovailoa matched Smith atop the NFL’s interceptions leaderboard with another pick in Week 14. He also threw a touchdown in the Dolphins’ win over the Jets.

30. Riley Leonard, Indianapolis Colts

Last week: N/A

Leonard is in position to make his first career NFL start in Week 15 if he can recover from a knee injury he suffered against the Jaguars in Week 14. The rookie sixth-rounder was 18-of-29 for 145 yards and an interception in his first meaningful NFL action. He also scored a rushing touchdown.

31. Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders

Last week: 25

In relief of second-year Jayden Daniels, who re-injured his elbow, Mariota went two-for-four for 30 yards and an interception.

32. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

Last week: 27

Cousins completed only half of his 30 pass attempts for 162 yards and threw two interceptions at home against the Seahawks’ stingy defense.